Dates for next Tournaments

A big change has been made to hold each of the tournaments over two weekends with all games being played at MLS. The first weekend will be for the smaller schools and the second weekend for the larger schools. St. Paul's-Saginaw has graciously allowed us to use their facilities for the tournaments for over 30 years now. We sincerely thank them for their willingness to help us in this endeavor, but we look forward to having all of the games on the MLS floor.

The dates selected for next year for the tournaments are as follows.

Girls' Tournament - Small Schools - Oct. 31 & Nov. 1, 2008
Girls' Tournament - Large Schools - Nov. 7 & 8, 2008

Boys' Tournament - Small Schools - Feb. 6 & 7, 2009
Boys' Tournament - Large Schools - Feb. 13 & 14, 2009

2008 BOYS TOURNAMENT

Winners

Class A Champion: SW Michigan Titans #1
Class A Runnerup: St. Paul, Saginaw

Class B Champion: St. Paul, Columbus & Beautiful Savior, Grove City
Class B Runnerup: Trinity, Jenera

Class C Champion: St. Stephen, Adrian
Class C Runnerup: Bethel, Bay City

Class D Champion: Bethany/St. John, Saginaw
Class D Runnerup: St. John, Sturgis

Co-ed Champion: St. John, Pigeon
Co-ed Runnerup: New Salem, Sebewaing

2007 GIRLS TOURNAMENT

Winners

Class A Champion: Southwest Michigan Titans #1
Class A Runnerup: Emanuel, Lansing

Class B Champion: St. John, Bay City
Class B Runnerup: Good Shepherd, Midland

Class C Champion: Emanuel, Tawas City
Class C Runnerup: New Salem, Sebewaing & St. John, Pigeon

TOURNAMENT WEBSITE

http://gsbbtourn.mlsem.org/login.php

Forgot your username or password? Send an email to Bob Schroer at rms@mlsem.org.

2007 BOYS TOURNAMENT

Winners

Class A Champion: Southwest Michigan, Titans #1
Class A Runnerup: Livonia, St. Paul

Class B Champion: Bay City, St. John
Class B Runnerup: Kawkawlin, St. Bartholomew

Class C Champion: Adrian, St. Stephen
Class C Runnerup: Tawas City, Emmanuel

Class D Champion: Washington, Cross of Glory
Class D Runnerup: Monroe, Zion

PICTURES

Tournament Gallery Website

CHEERLEADERS

Cheerleaders add to the enjoyment of our tournament. We ask that each cheerleader coach do their best to insure that their squad does not obstruct play. At St. Paul's the out of bounds area is very small so your help in this regard will be much appreciated. Because of safety concerns, NO

mounts are allowed at either gym.

POM PONS

Pompon squads are welcome to use our sound equipment for their routines. Before your game, notify someone at the scorer's table that you plan to have a routine. Be aware that halftime is only six minutes long. Limit the length of your routine to three and one-half minutes so that time is available for the basketball players to warm up.

HOUSING

Male and female representatives of your school can be housed in the MLS Dormitory. Adult chaperons (either teachers or parents) are to be provided for each of the groups and are to stay with the students in the dormitories. Each person staying in the dorm is to bring an air mattress or pad, sleeping bag and pillow. Space for housing tournament participants is limited. We only will be able to accommodate schools requesting space on a first-come, first-served basis. The space available may be in study hall rooms that do not have beds in them.

Housing assignments will be given to you when you arrive at MLS. Chaperons will receive a copy of the MLS dormitory rules. Guests will be expected to follow these rules during their stay. We request that all Northern Conference teams plan to return home for the night to allow room for teams from further distances. For teams staying overnight, please limit your squads to twelve (12) players. We are unable to provide the comforts, services, and amenities of a motel.

T-SHIRTS

Tournament T-shirts will again be available at a price similar to recent years' prices. We will not be able to re-order shirts following the tournament, so we encourage those interested in purchasing shirts to do so early during the tournament.

MEALS

Meals will be available in the MLS cafeteria for all tournament participants and their fans at reasonable prices. Fuzzy's, Papa John's Pizza, and Michigan Coni Island are within walking distance of MLS on Court Street, southeast of the campus. Other restaurants are within convenient driving distance. Snacks will also be available at the MLS student commons vending machines.

TOURNAMENT ADMISSION

Admission prices for ADULTS will be $2.50 per day and for STUDENTS, $1.00 per day. An admission charge is to be paid for each day. Please inform your fans accordingly. There have been some uncomfortable situations in the past when some fans were not made aware of the prices before coming to the tournament.

Players, coaches, and principals whose names are on the team roster will be admitted to the tournament by identifying themselves to the ticket taker at either gymnasium.

EQUIPMENT

Basketballs for warm up will be provided by MLS. The tournament will use girls' regulation size balls for the girls' tournament and co-ed division of the boys' tournament. If there is a conflict in school colors, MLS will have jerseys of a different color available. We expect coaches of teams to be responsible for the health and safety of their athletes. MLS personnel will help you secure the services of emergency help if the need should arise.

GAME INFORMATION

Game length will be governed by Junior High School Rules of six minute quarters, a two minute overtime if necessary, three full and two 30 second time outs per game, one additional time out for each overtime period, one minute time outs between quarters, and a six minute halftime. The three point rule will be in effect, as well as the 7-10 foul bonus free-throw rule.

At least eight minutes will be given each team to warm up before they play. The eight minutes will begin as soon as the floor is swept after the preceding game.

The starting line ups will be introduced before each game. MLS will provide the official scorer and time keeper for each game. We request that team scorers sit with their teams during a game. Line ups will be entered into the official score book from the tournament rosters before each game.

LOCKER ROOMS

Assignment for locker rooms will be made for each game. Visiting girls teams (on the bottom line of the tournament bracket) will use the girls' physical education locker room (northwest). Home girls teams (top line of the tournament bracket) will use the girls' team locker room (southeast). Boys home and visiting teams will share the boys locker room. Please arrange to keep track of your team's valuables. The co operation of all players and coaches is requested in keeping the locker rooms neat, clean, and orderly. Coaches should arrange adult supervision for their teams until they are finished in the locker room.

REFRESHMENTS

Soda pop, candy, and other snacks will be available during the tournament from vending machines in the student commons. Fans should not take beverages into the gymnasium.

PROGRAMS

We are eliminating our former program to decrease the growing costs of hosting the WELS tournaments. We will have a free program available that will include the names of all the participating teams and the tournament brackets, but we will not be listing all the individual team members.

AWARDS

Trophies will be awarded to the Championship, Second Place, and Consolation winners for each of the four classes, A, B, C, and D.

OFFICIALS

Qualified and registered officials from the Michigan State Athletic Association will be the referees for each game; they will be assigned to the games by the local officials' association, not MLS.

MOTELS

For those who might want to spend Friday or Saturday night at an area motel, many different establishments are available. The motel closest to the MLS campus and St. Paul's School is the Davenport (Ramada) Inn, 3325 Davenport, (989) 793 7900.

CONTACT

If you need any information that is missing in this letter, please call MLS, (989) 793 1041 or contact Bob Schroer at rms@mlsem.org.

We hope that this tournament will help more people in our Michigan District congregations become familiar with their school, Michigan Lutheran Seminary, and its chief purpose to train future pastors and teachers for our WELS parishes. Your help in spreading the word about our worker training purpose is appreciated!